Neill O’Neill
GOOD things come to those who wait, just ask Padraig Burns.
The Westport native and self-confessed football ‘nut’ has just lived through one of the most satisfying weeks of his life, and after many days of high spirits after his beloved Westport United lifted their first Connacht Cup in 25 years, the events in Munich on Saturday evening have ensured that his smile will remain in situ’ all summer.
Along with Westport United, Padraig Burns is also a Chelsea fanatic. He has been an avid supporter of both clubs all his life.
He was in the Allianz Arena in Munich on Saturday and was nervous; the match was in Bayern’s home ground but, unlike the last time Chelsea contested the Champions League Final (in Moscow in 2008 when Padraig also attended), on Saturday the records would be rewritten.
“I’ve seen some highs and lows following Chelsea,” he told The Mayo News last night, “but Saturday night was special. Nothing, absolutely nothing, could get close to it. We were in Moscow and that was one of the worst few days ever, but this made up for it.
“I couldn’t put it better than how my good friend Mike put it, a life-defining night, that’s what it meant. The boys in Toby’s [Bar, Westport] would understand what I’m on about.”
It was a game of high drama, with a magnificent late equaliser from the head of Didier Drogba, and a penalty save by Petr Cech from the foot of Arjen Robben in extra time.
Having watched Chelsea fail in a penalty shoot-out from the stands in the Luzhniki Stadium against Manchester United in 2008, also following a 1-1 draw after extra-time, Padraig was extremely concerned about history repeating itself.
“I honestly could not see us scoring but we had to go one down to go for it. Then when Mata missed his penalty we felt it was Moscow all over again. Even when ‘Drogs’ was walking up we weren’t confident. Thank God he scored because I don’t know what would have happened had we lost. There’s only so much of that feeling anybody can take.”
Quizzed on whether it was as good a feeling as when he co-managed Westport United to an unprecedented FAI Junior Cup success in 2005, he said: “I don’t like comparisons but, yeah you’re probably right, it has been an amazing seven days.”
On behalf of the local Chelsea fans in Westport, Padraig had a few final words for his team’s many detractors of late.
“Que sera sera, whatever will be, will be, we won in Germany, que sera sera.”
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